Given that Timothy McKenzie aka Labrinth released debut single 'Let The Sun Shine' 18 months ago, it's fair to say that the arrival of his first studio album has been a long time coming. Paraded as the first non-talent show winner to be signed to Simon Cowell's Syco label in six years, just how good is the music boss's talent scouting without the help of 15 million viewers?

Any qualms about the extended wait for the set are immediately quashed by opening number 'Climb On Board'; the start of his journey flitting between tyre-burning jungle beats and airy synths in seconds. It's followed by chart-bothering cuts 'Earthquake' and 'Last Time', which best showcase his flair for producing boombastic electronic-laced ditties with crowd-rousing choruses.

Even his boss's penchant for a cover is satiated with his take on 'Express Yourself', where the star talks candidly about his impending fame ("I don't make the papers, I'm far from JLS/ Ain't got the X Factor, I'm not what they expect"). Labrinth's lyrics are far from groundbreaking, but that doesn't make his music any less compelling. Ironically, the one artist Cowell has on his label who has the X Factor in abundance has stepped nowhere near one of his singing contests.